Top Children's Shows In Denver
(credit: CBS)School is out for the summer, so what are you doing to keep your kids entertained? Sure, you can put them in front of the television, hand them a video game controller and not worry about it. Or you can grab the whole family for a fun day of inspiration, creativity and the power of live theatre. There are several great companies offering family-friendly theatrical fare right now, making these the perfect options to introduce your children to the wonders of the performing arts. Forget the television this summer and instead get out and try something new. Here are some great plays and musicals for kids.
Evergreen Players
27608 Fireweed Drive
Evergreen, CO 80439
(303) 674-4934
www.evergreenplayers.orgDate: July 11 - Aug. 3, 2014
It's one of the most beloved musicals to ever hit the stage and it's perfect for your whole family and kids of all ages. "Annie" takes the original comic strip redheaded heroine and tells all about her big move from the orphanage and Miss Hanagan to the huge mansion with her new Daddy Warbucks. Of course, her dog Sandy and all of her orphan pals are sure to make appearances as well. You can introduce your children to all of the great music like "The Sun Will Come Out Tomorrow" and "It's a Hard Knock Life." Bring this classic musical to a new generation by visiting the beautiful Evergreen Players theater to catch this latest revival.
Related: Top Summertime Theater Activities For Kids In Denver
Arvada Center for the Arts
6901 Wadsworth Blvd.
Arvada, CO 80003
(720) 898-7200
www.arvadacenter.org/tarzan-2014
Date: July 11 - Aug. 3, 2014
Your children will be mesmerized as this huge musical based on the hit Disney animated film "Tarzan" swings into the Arvada Center for its Colorado debut. This is the musical story of the orphaned infant raised by a tribe of gorillas. Once he grows up, he finally realizes there is a world beyond his home in the jungle as he meets the hunting expedition and, of course, Jane. This musical includes all of the great music by Phil Collins and plenty of vine-swinging, eye-catching numbers to keep the kids amazed for the full production.
Aurora Fox Arts Center
9900 E. Colfax Ave.
Aurora, CO 80010
(303) 739-1970
www.aurorafoxartscenter.orgDate: July 8-24, 2014
The Aurora Fox Little Foxes program brings amazing high-quality theatre to children of all ages and this upcoming performance of "Sideways Stories from Wayside School" is sure to be another fun show for your kids to enjoy. These plays are performed for kids by kids, so your kids will have a great time seeing other children their own age up on stage, plus you may just end up sparking a new interest in the performing arts. "Sideways Stories From Wayside School" is based on the Louis Sachar novels of the same name and it's all about a school that has 30 classrooms built one on top of the other. The children in Mrs. Jewls' class have some odd encounters with a lunch-money stealing principal, ghosts in the mashed potatoes, a possessed blackboard, talking pigtails and lots more.
Boulders Dinner Theatre
5501 Arapahoe Ave.
Boulder, CO 80303
(303) 449-6000
www.bouldersdinnertheatre.comDate: Through Sept. 6, 2014
Delight and amaze the kids with this musical based on the hit movies that started it all. "Shrek the Musical" tells the story of the unseemly ogre who sets out with his Donkey pal to rescue a feisty princess. Of course, everything goes wrong when you throw in a cookie with an attitude, a bad guy with a very short temper and more than a dozen other fairly tale characters. With lots of brand new songs, fun dancing and beautiful scenery, this is one great show for the whole family. Plus, you can enjoy a full meal, since this is Boulder's Dinner Theatre. So make it a very special day for you and the kids by heading up to Boulder for a delicious meal and an amazing musical.
Denver Performing Arts Complex
1400 Arapahoe St.
Denver, CO 80202
(303) 365-0055
www.phamaly.orgDate: July 10 - Aug. 10, 2014
This is a very special musical for the whole family for several reasons. First, it's a great story about the trials and triumphs of Joseph. It's a retelling of the Biblical story of Joseph, his 11 brothers and the coat of many colors. With music by the amazing Andrew Lloyd Weber and Tim Rice, this is one of the best rock musicals to ever hit the Broadway stage. This production, however, is also being performed by Phamaly (formerly known as the Physically Handicapped Actors and Musical Artists League). Every performer on stage has a disability of some type, making this a wonderful opportunity for your children to see the power of this amazing theatre company. As director Steve Wilson explains, "Like Joseph, the members of our company have also experienced a measure of misfortune. Some are disabled from birth, some from accidents and some from illness. The central message of our company has always been one of creative advocacy for the recognition of the power and potential of this community in our society."
